Nepal

Election peaceful by and large, voter turnout spikes 71 per cent

Election peaceful by and large, voter turnout spikes 71 per cent

By KESHAV P. KOIRALA

Local level elections were held in 34 districts on May 14, 2017.

KATHMANDU: At least 71 per cent voters in 34 districts on Sunday took part in the local level elections that were held for the first time after Nepal's new constitution was promulgated in September 2015, according to the Election Commission. A few incidents of disruption and violence in some districts notwithstanding , Chief Election Commissioner Dr Ayodhee Prasad Yadav said in a press conference, voting concluded peacefully and in free and fair manner. Voting was carried out in Province No. 3, 4 and 6 in the first phase today to elect leadership in 281 local levels, including four metropolitan cities, one sub-metropolitan city, 92 municipalities and 186 rural municipalities today. Two rural municipalities, one each in Manang and Dolpa districts, had unanimously elected their representatives without voting. Vote counting is expected to begin in some districts, including in the Kathmandu Valley, tonight itself. The remaining 41 districts in four provinces -- Province No. 1, 2, 5 and 7-- will hold local level elections on June 14 in the second phase after the number of local levels in the Tarai districts are revised. CEC Yadav said voting was cancelled at three polling centres, one each in Kavre, Kalikot and Dolakha districts, and date for fresh voting will be fixed later. Ballot boxes from remote locations will be airlifted by choppers to the respective headquarters in some districts, he informed. SN Districts Voter turnout  1 Dolakha 62 * 2 Ramechhap 54 3 Sindhuli 75 4 Kavrepalanchok 60* 5 Sindhupalchok 70 6 Nuwakot 70 7 Rasuwa 82 8 Dhading 75 9 Chitwan 70 10 Makawanpur 70 11 Bhaktapur 80 12 Lalitpur 75 13 Kathmandu 75 14 Gorkha 80 15 Jajarkot 73 16 Lamjung 71 17 Tanahun 70 18 Kaski 75 19 Manang 58 20 Mustang 75 21 Parbat 65 22 Syangja 70 23 Myagdi 60 24 Baglung 67 25 Nawalparasi 73 26 Salyan 71 27 Dolpa 81 28 Jumla 70 29 Mugu 70 30 Humla 75 31 Kalikot 60* 32 Dailekh 70 33 Surkhet 70 34 Rukum           75 Source: Election Commission